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Biosensors |
Do you know What is Biosensor? It is a device to detect the absorption rate of a substance by producing signals. I will also tell you about the process and various types of biosensors. Applications of biosensors have a huge impact on human health in today's era 2023.
Biosensor
A Biosensor is an instrumental device that can measure the absorption rate of an analyte by detecting physical or chemical changes thus producing a signal.
Components of Biosensor:
Analyte: An analyte is a substance whose concentration and absorption rate is
measured such as glucose.
Bio receptor: A bio
receptor is a molecule that identifies analytes such as enzymes, cells, and DNA.
The bioreactor interacts with the analyte to produce signals through heat,
light, or electric charge.
Transducer: It is a
process of energy conversion that transforms one kind of energy into another. It
transforms physical change into a detectable signal.
Processor: Here the transduced electrical signal is
processed and made ready to display. The biosensor device quantifies the movement
that has been processed.
Display: The display consists of a computer screen that interprets results in the form of graphical representation, images, or tabular form.
Process of Biosensor:
Biological material such as antibodies, nucleic acid, enzymes, and cells identifies and interacts with the analyte. The natural component gets immobilized on the transducer. The analyte binds to the biological material and produces a physical or chemical change. At times the analyte endures conversion into a product that can cause the emission of heat, electrons, or hydrogen ions.
This change produced by the product is detected by the transducer and converted into quantifiable
electrical signals. The signals are amplified by the amplifier. Then further
processed by the processor and converted into analyte concentration present in the sample. The analyte concentration is
measured and displayed in the form of a graph on the screen
of the biosensor.
Advanced Technologies in Biosensors:
Nanotechnology:
The integration of nanomaterials in biosensors has significantly improved their performance. Nanomaterials, such as carbon molecules and quantum dots, provide enhanced sensitivity, and stability to biosensor platforms.
Wearable Biosensors:
The miniaturization of biosensor technology has led to the development of wearable devices that can continuously monitor vital signs, glucose levels, and other biomarkers. These devices offer real-time data collection, enabling personalized healthcare and early disease detection.
Smartphone-based Biosensors:
Leveraging the ubiquity of smartphones, biosensors can now be connected to mobile devices for data analysis and transmission. This approach democratizes access to healthcare by enabling remote monitoring and diagnosis, particularly in underserved areas.
Types of Biosensors:
There are many biosensor types depending on the sensor's technology and biological component being employed.
Electrochemical Biosensors:
These biosensors use bio-electrodes to assess changes in
electrode conductivity, the concentration of ions, and electric current. These
biosensors determine electric charge depending on the electron coordination. A steady current flows through the sensor
which can be detected such as a glucose biosensor.
Potentiometric Biosensor:
This biosensor measures the potential difference of electrodes
during a redox reaction. It measures the change in concentration of ions by using the charged electrode. It varies by the concentration of substrate.
Conductometric Biosensors:
The conductivity of electricity is measured by the change in ion
specie. Biological material undergoes processes that result in changes in ionic
specie. Example Urea.
Thermal Biosensors:
Heat production is connected to biological processes, and the foundation of this
process is known as thermometric biosensors. Thermal biosensors can determine
minute temperature differences in biological material. It measures temperature change either endothermic (absorption) or exothermic (release).
Bio optical Sensors:
Devices that use optical measurement
are called optical biosensors. They use electric transducers and fiber
optics. The transducing components are enzymes and antibodies. A photodetector,
a type of optical biosensor requires a light source and other optical
components. They also measure the light that came during the enzyme action of luciferase.
The enzyme luciferase function by converting substrate to oxyluciferin which
emits light.
Properties of a good biosensor:
The biosensor should be selective and attaches to a specific
analyte
It should be precise and accurate
It should be stable and can bear environmental disorders
It could detect the low concentration of analyte
It should be linear over a large range of substrates and
provide an accurate measuring response
The device should be inexpensive, and compatible with usage
The response time of a biosensor should be fast
The outcome of the device should be reliable, and low in cost than a conventional test
Applications of Biosensors
The applications of biosensors have significantly impacted human health in 2023.
Medical Field
The applications of biosensors in the medical science field are expanding fast. The device is used to screen the glucose levels of diabetic patients. It can monitor and track glucose levels in a blood sample and making it possible to allow diabetes management. Biosensors have provided benefits in the case of cancer monitoring and cardiovascular monitoring. Cancer detection and treatment are essential due to the large spread of diseases, high mortality rate, and recurrence of disease after treatment.
The biosensor is an effective and proficient technique. It works in an efficient way providing rapid results and producing signals. Biosensors provide early detection of pathogens which caused SARS-CoV-2 for respiratory infection coronavirus COVID-19. If the disease is diagnosed earlier, we can control the symptoms of spreading infection so this is a new method of eradicating viral infection.
In the medical field, biosensors can measure cancer's growth and identify viruses infecting a person. Treatment should work accurately and effectively if we can identify tumors at an early stage which is possible with biosensor technology. The biosensor can also determine the presence of a cancer whether it’s cancerous or non-cancerous and also identify whether the treatment is working successfully on the patient or not.
Cardiovascular disease is the largest problem nowadays, and the world is suffering from a significant
death rate due to this disease. The death rate will be declined if we
can detect this disorder earlier. Biosensors
are employed in the early diagnosis and discovery of cardiac disease. Biosensors
have implemented a significant role in clinical diagnostic procedures.
Food Applications
Biosensors have applications in the food industry to monitor different processes during the fermentation of yogurt, alcohol, and acid. Another importance in the food industry is identifying infections in fresh meat, poultry, and fish. Biosensors are used in the agricultural sector for crop development and food processing. Food is being manufactured with long shelf life and better quality.
Biosensors have been used
in food processing with less production cost and reduced production time.
Moreover, biosensors can identify specific substances in food. The device
monitors physical and biological contaminants and undesirable substances in
food.
Environmental Applications
Water and air quality are tested through biosensors. The device can be used to examine levels of
toxicity of wastewater and organic material and the remains of organic phosphates
from pesticides. Biosensors have played an essential role in the environmental
industry by detecting various chemicals, organic pollutants, harmful components,
and infections that may pose health risks to humans and the environment.
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